But future shows may be few and far between, unless organizers can convince proprietors of various rental halls or similar venues to put aside their prejudice against the furry felines.

Fortunately, the Holiday Inn was more understanding, but the group benefited because they were offered a winter rental rate. Prices will increase in the spring, Ehrhart said.

The problem is that as soon as people hear that a large number of cats will be involved, they fear their premises will end taking on the aroma of, well, a well-used litter box.

"Tell me, do you smell anything?'' she said, gesturing to the rows of wire and plastic cages holding dozens of cats, and at least a score of litter boxes.

"If anything, we leave the places cleaner when we leave,'' Ehrhart said.

More than a score of cat owners and breeders attended the weekend show and competed for ribbons in both pedigreed and house cat categories. The show was conducted under the auspices of the American Association of Cat Enthusiasts, a relative newcomer among the various cat-fancier groups.

But the real attraction of the show, according to Irene Brounstein, of Montville, N.J., a founder of AACE and head of the Kitty Kat Power club, is the friendships that result.

Brounstein, who breeds Siamese and Oriental cats, started AACE after tiring of the backbiting and politics that she saw too often at other shows.

"There's no cattiness in this association,'' she said. "We're basically about having fun.''

Money raised from the show will be used to aid various cat rescue groups in the state, Ehrhart said. Organizers hoped to get enough money to purchase phone cards for military personnel serving in Iraq.

But that effort was hindered by the disappointing attendance, which Ehrhart attributed to lack of publicity.

She's hoping to do better at the next show, if a suitable venue can be found.

"We would like to do another show in Danbury,'' she said, "possibly in the spring.''